The Color of Water Chapters 1-10 – Flashcards
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Innocence
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-has not yet been corrupted by society -Doesn't completely understand right from wrong completely -lack of knowledge of the worldy problems -doesn't know what its like to "struggle"
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What does it mean to lose innocence
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-Painful events -Conflicts or hardships -Loss of a loved one -Teaches important life lessons
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Losing Innocence
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-Does it all have to be lost at once? -Chips away over time? -Learning the truth about -santa, tooth fairy, easter bunny, magic isn't real, death of a pet -Learning about something that changes perspective
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Experience
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-gain of knowledge -Teaches us right from wrong -gained over time -insight -can corrupt morals -you are wise- wise people can make decisions in tough situations-they have insight
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How do you become experienced
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-break-ups -betrayal -Peer pressure -Experimenting (drugs or alcohol) -Cheating -Lying -Death of a loved one
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Who is Experienced
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-old people -war vets
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Once experienced can you be innocent again
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no
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Chapter One
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Dead-Ruth Chapter
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Identify the use of narration used in chapter one and two. Why do you think McBride chose this pattern of narration, which he uses for the majority of the book
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the pattern of narration which is first person shows the reader both perspectives; Ruth's persecutive and James perspective. "Here is her life as she told it to me, and betwixt and between the pages of her life you will find mine as well"
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What is Ruth's attitude towards her family? What is her tone in chapter 1
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Ruth's tine in the first chapter can be described as bitter. She doesn't want anything to do with her family which is evident on page one when she says "They want no parts of me and me I don't want no parts of them" (McBride 1). -Ruth has a negative tone, bitter and serious.
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After reading chapter 1, what type of person does Ruth seem to be? Be specific and use a quote to support your opinion
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After reading chapter one, Ruth seems to be an independent person, she doesn't need people or her family for that matter in her life. She states "Rachel Shiskey is dead as far as I'm concerned she had to die in order for me, the rest of me, to live( 2).
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Ruth's terse account of her background is intense. "Rachel Shilsky is dead as far as I'm concerned. She had to die in order for me, the rest of me, to live" What does she mean by this?
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Ruth is trying to explain to the reader that in order to separate herself from her family, she and to "kill" Rachel Shilsky in order to be able to cut ties and live on her own
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What regret does Ruth seem to reveal at the end of the chapter
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Ruth seems to regret something she did to her mother or something she didn't do right by her( disappointed the mother).
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Chapter 2
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the bicycle
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Who narrates chapter 2? What is James attitude toward his mother? How do you know locate quotes
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McBride narrates the second chapter and it is from the perspective of his 14 year old-self. He is embarrassed of his mother bc she is weird and she does certain things that tick him off. (Page 7 for quotes)
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After reading chapter 2, what is James suggesting about his step-fathers character
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He was genuinely a good guy and he had the best intentions for Ruth's kids even if he wasn't their biological father.
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After reading chapter 2, what type of person is James
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After reading chapter 2, James seems to be a follower. He wants to be like everyone else and do drugs and rob from other people. He is embarrassed and ashamed of his mother and how she is different from everyone else.
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McBride describes his mother, Ruth in chapter 2, what type of mother was she? Was he a happy child?
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In chapter two, McBride described Ruth. Ruth was strong, caring and brave. She cared for each and every one of her children and tried to give them everything they wanted. Although she couldn't do much, she was strong raising twelve kids on her own. However James did not seem like a happy child. He was embarrassed of his mom and did alot of petty crimes. He blended in with his other siblings and he couldn't do anything about the conditions he was in so he had to just live his life.
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Describe Ruth's tone in the statement that says "you ask too many questions. educate your mind. School is more important. Forget about Rodney and Pete. Forget their mothers. When they go one way u go the other. Understand.
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Ruth seems to come off as a very strong person. She seems very harsh as she is yelling at young James to worry about himself and not other people
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Chapter 3
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Kosher- Ruth's trip to America. Stayed with religious grandparents
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Chapter 4
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Black Power
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What is the group known as the Black Panthers
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the black panthers were a party of African americans that would protect neighborhoods of other African Americans
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Can you explain the allusion of the title of chapter 4, " Black Power"?
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During chapter 4, the Black Power movement had worked its way into New York City. The chapter tells the reader that the Black Power movement had a large influence on James
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Who were the Black Panthers? What were some of their opinions and what did they seek?
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They wanted equal rights and believed African Americans deserved them.
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How influential were the Black Power in James' neighborhood?
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the black power movement was very influential in James neighborhood due to the fact that it was high populated with African Americans. "We thought he was God" (26).
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How did James feel about the Black Power
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James was on the fence about the black power. At first he believed he should move with it because he was black but at the same time he felt that they were going to hurt his mother
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What contradictions about Ruth's character are revealed in chapter 4
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she felt that white people were evil toward black people but forced her children to go to white schools to get the best education. The fact that blacks could be trusted more but anything involving blacks was probably slightly substandard she disliked people with money but was always in constant need of it. She couldn't stand racist of either color and had a great distaste for french blacks who sought to emulate rich whites by doing silly things. She was against welfare and never applied despite the need for it. She also hated restaurants.
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Chapter 5
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Ruth's chapter Old Testament
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Chapter 5 summary
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Ruth's father is a traveling preacher and therefore as a child she traveled a lot in her younger years. Eventually the family settled in Virginia and they were the only Jews. Father owned a business, a convince store and he wanted money more than anything. He would rape/sexually assault Ruth when she was a child which lead to her low self esteem issues
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Chapter 6 Summary
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Religion was a huge part of the children's lives. Ruth went to church every sunday. the kids would have to do readings and the mother would sing in the choir. James never understood the power of God until he was older. "God is the color of water. Water doesn't have a color" (61) Mom and Father( biological ) founded a church together, new brown memorial church. Mom took great pride in the relationship with God. One day billy forgot his passage and mom beat him.
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Chapter 7 Summary
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-Klu Klux Klan recedes a presence in Ruth's home. Blacks and Jews were scared. Tateh would keep a loaded gun under the counter. During the thirties, people were poor and guns and fishing rods were used to survive. They were unable to complain because the cops wouldn't ride back there. Sam= was a shadow. He was quite and submissive. Tateh would put the fear of god in him. strict with religion would have him sit and study the torah. Would call him stupid and torment him. Since Sam was a boy he had to open the store and close the store, his life was serving for his father. Eventually he couldn't take it and jus left and never came back. Ended up in Chicago and eventually went into the army and got killed in World War 2
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Chapter 8 Summary
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twelve kids in the house, got lost in the sauce, kill or be killed when it came for food. Mom had a job where they gave free dinner to the workers, so she would stock up and bring it home to her children. Ruth couldn't cook for her life although when the kids were starving they had to eat it. Everything was everywhere and the kids would share everything (toothbrush). School was a top priority. Dennis- UPENN scholar Helen- oldest sisters left home when she was 15. Rosetta broke helens jacket and helen got really upset and just left. Mom found her a couple months later and then she still didn't want to return.
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What is James' PURPOSE for writing chapter 8?
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to show the reader the environment he grew up with
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Why did Helen drop out of school?
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she believed the "white man's" education was not for her.
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In what ways was James affected by his siblings' conflicts? Use at least 2 examples of how they affected him.
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With Helen, James was again confused with his gender identity when his sister states "a white man's education is not for me" also he was shown the live outside of his home, a world with filthy living people and therefore at a young age had to decide to either stay in school or leave the house.
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Which details in this chapter best support its purpose?
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he is honoring his mother the food thing and how she searched for Helen
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How was Ruth treated at school as outlined in chapter 9? Locate a quote to support your thoughts
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"Hey Ruth, when did you start being a dirty Jew?" (80) "Nobody liked me. That's how I felt as a child. I know what it feels like when people laugh at you walking down the street or nicker when they hear you sneak Yiddish, or just look at you with hate in their eyes" (80).
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How did Ruth's life change by meeting Frances? Explain and find a quote to support.
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"Okay. Heck I was glad someone wanted to be my friend" (81). "She'd do little things to let you know she was on your side. It didn't bother her one bit that I was on your side" (82).
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Explain what Ruth meant when she said, "I never starved for food till I got married. But I was starving in another way" (83).
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Ruth was never starving for food, although she was " starving for love and affection. I didn't get none of that" (83). Once she got married, she had love and affection but no food and when she was little she had no love and affection from her parents.
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How does this chapter 10 support James' purpose for writing about his journey to self-discovery? Locate a quote that suggests he was having issues with his identify.
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"We grew accustomed to being the only "black or negro" kids in school" (89) "james is a ******" (89) "I believed my true self was the boy in the mirror" (90) "To a further escape from painful reality" (90) Page 105 "I gazed at the boy in the mirror. I remembered him, and how free he was, and I hated him even more. "being the token of negro, was something i was never really comfortable with" (89).
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How did James cope with his fears and insecurities about his identity? Locate a quote that supports your ideas.
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"I created an imaginary world for myself. I believed my true self was a boy who lived in the mirror. I'd lock myself in the bathroom and spend long hours playing with him....(90-91).
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How did James' siblings affect his identity crisis? Locate a quote.
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siblings would tease James in the ways that the school children would. They would tell him that Ruth wasn't his real mother which caused a identity shift. page 93 when they stuck him in the closet.
